§55-7-22. Civil relief for persons resisting certain criminal
activities.
(a) A lawful occupant within a home or other place of
residence is justified in using reasonable and proportionate force,
including deadly force, against an intruder or attacker to prevent
a forcible entry into the home or residence or to terminate the
intruder's or attacker's unlawful entry if the occupant reasonably
apprehends that the intruder or attacker may kill or inflict
serious bodily harm upon the occupant or others in the home or
residence or if the occupant reasonably believes that the intruder
or attacker intends to commit a felony in the home or residence and
the occupant reasonably believes deadly force is necessary.

(b) A lawful occupant within a home or other place of
residence does not have a duty to retreat from an intruder or
attacker in the circumstances described in subsection (a) of this
section.

(c) A person not engaged in unlawful activity who is attacked
in any place he or she has a legal right to be outside of his or
her home or residence may use reasonable and proportionate force
against an intruder or attacker: Provided, That such person may
use deadly force against an intruder or attacker in a place that is
not his or her residence without a duty to retreat if the person
reasonably believes that he or she or another is in imminent danger
of death or serious bodily harm from which he or she or another can
only be saved by the use of deadly force against the intruder or attacker.

(d) The justified use of reasonable and proportionate force
under this section shall constitute a full and complete defense to
any civil action brought by an intruder or attacker against a
person using such force.

(e) The full and complete civil defense created by the
provisions of this section is not available to a person who:

(1) Is attempting to commit, committing or escaping from the
commission of a felony;

(2) Initially provokes the use of force against himself,
herself or another with the intent to use such force as an excuse
to inflict bodily harm upon the assailant; or

(3) Otherwise initially provokes the use of force against
himself, herself or another, unless he or she withdraws from
physical contact with the assailant and indicates clearly to the
assailant that he or she desires to withdraw and terminate the use
of force, but the assailant continues or resumes the use of force.

(f) The provisions of this section do not apply to the
creation of a hazardous or dangerous condition on or in any real or
personal property designed to prevent criminal conduct or cause
injury to a person engaging in criminal conduct.

(g) Nothing in this section shall authorize or justify a
person to resist or obstruct a law-enforcement officer acting in
the course of his or her duty.